April 2015 Thread 14: We've got the fanny daggers and the babies aren't keen on waiting till April!

[TheBooMonster]

Welcome to the 13th April 2015 babies thread!

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We’re in the home stretch ladies, we've had six babies, how many more threads can we manage before the last baby is here?

Morning Ladies!! Congrats to anyone who has had a little bundle not managed to read back!
DH finally got given some antibiotics after being ill for 6 weeks about time he might stop complaining now!!
Had a horrible night sleep tossing and turning and for some reason bump is feeling sore and tender donno if she has given me a good kicking but it is really sore when I bend down!
Spent the day writing out school reports yesterday to help DH as being so ill he is struggling really enjoyed it, took em all day though.
I am not sure what is going on with bump been getting odd pains and things so thinking she is making her way down I see midwife today but not until 5 going to be waiting around all day! :( 38+4 want this baby out now!

Siarie another one here that suggests aqueous cream. I've never tried the menthol one (actually haven't heard of it!) but I have to use aqueous cream daily for my dermatitis on my hands. It's very relieving.

Aw not long left at work now FiRaffe.

Brummagem I feel your panic! Had similar thoughts last night myself!
A little person that is literally going to be with me almost 24/7, relying on me .
We'll be fine!

I thought things were starting to move last night - I had regular period pains that came and went, which is how things started with DD. But had a very uneventful night (apart from lots of tossing and turning, but that's frustratingly normal at the moment) and this morning I feel nothing. So perhaps I have a bit longer yet. Finishing off work today and tomorrow - it will be a relief to have that done. DH was a bit panicked by last night and has gone into work super motivated to get his desk cleared so if anything happens over the weekend he's ready. So that's progress because I think he's been a bit in denial up until now!

penguin, Chicken and boo - I remember so well the challenges of getting BF established and birth weight regained etc. In fact, it took us a month before DD was back up to birthweight, which was super stressful. But it sounds like you are all doing so well and it will be worth it in the end. This is the challenging, tiring bit but things will soon settle down. x x x

It didn't come to anything. I had a dream that I got a bit of bloody CM and dh came home then nothing happened And my mum was also the same but she had more blood than me and I thought she would have her baby first!!! Very weird and rather disconcerting.

This morning my bump just hurts, my stoma hurts (starting to really sting, getting stretched I think, yuck) and my legs ache. Dd is not yet at nursery because I woke late and then she asked for eggs and I'm all soft with her at the moment and she'd already missed nursery breakfast cos I slept so long... (Dd was just sitting in bed waiting, bless her!) Now we are finishing watching the episode of Ben and Holly that is on then I will take her...

And come back and do all the housework I desperately want done? Maybe with a 10 minute timer on... 10 mins then sit and drink... And repeat. Consultant this afternoon. Wonder what she will say? Must write a list of questions for my birth plan.

Oh, how self absorbed of me. Sorry.

siarie that sounds miserable, poor you! And all others suffering with sleep. I nearly posted at 05.30 because I was awake and wondering why after my weird labour dreams... and nothing was happening, so why was I awake?! But I decided to try to sleep instead and obviously managed it!

Breaatfeeding folk well done. Good luck for tomorrow's weighing penguin! I didn't wake dd all night either, unless she didn't rouse by about 4 hrs. She fed most of the day

Hope everyone has a good day. Am in awe of all still at work, especially you wine being same edd as me!!!

I have to say I don't remember all this worry about birth weight with DD. I wasn't even told about feeding more to get rid of jaundice. Is this a new thing or was my hospital just very tight lipped about what they told me and just let me get on with it? Feel a bit bad that she had jaundice and I did nothing to help her with it except let them stick her under the lights. I was basically left in my hospital room with DD and I had to ring them to help me express some colostrum so they could feed her.

Anyway my random bump aching and dodgy toilet trip amounted to nothing as I knew it would. I know I'm only 36+1 but I am stressing a bit about having a big baby. (stupid growth chart)

Don't hide them then TheBooMonster, especially in your house! I never used a shawl/cover with either of mine and don't intend to again. My boobs are minuscule compared to when I had my other two so covering them will be easier anyway!

They will miss you Brummagem I'm sure and you will be able to take baby to visit them too

Sorry to many had bad nights, guess that's going to be normal from now on!

I didn't Lauren82000, I didn't realise for a looooong time that ds1 was unusual in that he'd gained weight at his first weigh in. With ds2 I worried as I knew about it but he only lost 1/2oz of his 9lb 2, so no probs.

Definitely get something for your itching Sairie or you'll be a mad person by the time the baby arrives!

Hi roastpots - glad it's given your other half a kick up the bum! Wish mine would be like that, he's still in denial I think! He's off for a stag do the weekend (in this country) and I'm tempted to say to him, if I go into labour I won't be calling you! I wouldn't want him turning up with a hangover or even worse, trying to make his way back over here with drink in his system. I'm only 36+3 but I keep trying to explain to him that it can happen at any time.

Daholster hope you're feeling ok! I still haven't done a birth plan. There's been no mention of it from the midwives as yet but it was asked about at the antenatal class this week. Not really sure what I would even write!

Lauren I'm at the other end of the worry - I've been told he's 'more of an average size' and not a big baby and have 'guesstimated' from my growth scan that he will be around 7lbs. 7lbs seems tiny to me bump is still measuring around 2cm behind so will see what they say at my next midwives appointment next week.

Lots of fanny/hip/other-areas-down-there daggers this morning, so I'm going to get up and do something as I'm feeling uncomfortable lying/sitting down!

RL I tried talking to DH about what I wanted last night re my birth plan. He was only half listening and then said 'well you do what they tell you to don't you?' So I started explaining about I didn't want an episiotomy unless I really had to, no pethadine and the injection for the placenta. Again I hit a brick wall and he said can't you do that bit naturally (I explained the risk of left overs, it being quicker and I had it last time) the episiotomy was batted off as 'you do as your told by the medical professionals'.

I tried explaining that it was important he knew what my wishes were in case I ended up out of it and he needed to tell them. I didn't even get on to the topic of 'if it was a case of saving me or the baby...' I thought that would really freak him out being the worrier that he is.

(Answer to that is save me. Selfish? Maybe, but I won't leave DD without a mummy and although I'd be devastated to lose a baby, we can try again or if circumstances are that I can't have anymore then we still have DD. Plus I couldn't leave DH to raise 2 children by himself, it wouldn't be fair when it could be preventable. I just think about a lady I work with who lost her mum aged 3 and it makes me really sad that she only has a few pictures of her and her mum and doesn't remember her much at all.)

RL - I'm 39+1 so it's about time he started taking it seriously! I had to lay down the law when I got to 37 wks and say that he needed to not drink from now on (or at least not have more than one). It's not just about being able to drive, but also about being with it and not hung over. He still had 2 more nights of drinking after that before I had a meltdown and told him how stressed and angry it was making me - and I found it really annoying given that I had given up drinking for 2 pregnancies etc - surely he could manage a few weeks (he's not even a big drinker really - I think it was just part of the denial!) So perhaps just let your other half have his fun this weekend and then get serious!

Ah, who needs sleep...oh wait us. Hope we all manage to get a few restful nights soon.

Oh RL, can you ask him not to drink at the stag do? My DH seems to be on high alert at the moment. Keeps telling me his plan at work for each day so I know when I can/can't reach him.

Woke up at 6am starving. Really annoying cause I can't seem to eat enough during the day cause I feel yucky. Upset stomach this morning but don't think it's going to mean anything. Ho hum.

Nice neighbour came to check on me this morning as he found a small puddle of blood in the corridor. Feel very loved. Ha ha.

Urgh bad night here too. So it's not like this forever then roast? DD feeding constantly in the early hours. I was getting so ratty-how could she still be hungry? She settles so much better with OH - s/t I think she just smells milk on me and goes mental.
OH is amazing tho. We got out of sync last night-normally he does 1am-4am with the bottle which is the worst time for her going crazy.

Lauren I agree as much as it hurts me to say it, our world would crash if we lost this baby now. But agreed dd needs mummy. And dh needs dw I hope!!! But this isn't a conversation you need to have. Until the baby is born life of mum in legal medical terms is deemed the one to save unless you have explicitly consented in writing and witnessed signatures and discussed it previously, so perhaps you can save him the worry of this conversation! My dh is the opposite, he had been worrying that he wants to be sure he knows what I want and we write it down because it is more complicated this time and higher risks of surgery and GA for me etc.

He's coming home tonight, I can't wait.

I hurt so much! Seriously wondered if my stoma was prolapsing this morning Behaving a little bit blocked again too, with bulgy hernia, yuck. Considering asking the consultant about induction if I reach 40 weeks instead of more stretching and increasing risk of blockages. I blab about my guts so much on here... Any of you have any opinions about whether I should ask or just suck it up? I've managed this far and I don't want super strong contractions from induction etc to make me worry more about the stoma... Or to increase my risk of instrumentation/surgery even more. Maybe I should just weather it, its "only" another 2 weeks... But currently this is my last planned consultant appointment so I have to ask everything now.

Asking for induction just cos I'm miserable and worried about the what ifs (which are unlikely to be life threatening for either of us just uboleasant for me) seems a bit seems a bit selfish?!

chicken my dd was the same, seemed to cry more with me and wouldn't settle I think because I smelled of milk. Always settled on dh. I started getting really resentful like I was just a milk cow and it's all she wanted me for. It changed at about 6 weeks though.

Eek, I hadn't even considered the 'me or baby' conversation.

Daholster, I think there is no harm in asking the question and seeing what the consultant says. If you are getting compilations and the pain is worsening then it might be a sensible option to get things underway sooner rather than later. I hope it's just a bad day and things ease off.

chicken - we worked out a system whereby I would do a feed in the night and then pass DD over to DH to settle her back to sleep with cuddles/rocking etc. I found this really helped me psychologically because I knew that no matter how hard it was being awake and feeding in the night, as soon as it was done I could go back to sleep. Otherwise, I would just sit there panicking about how long it would be before I could sleep again! Might be worth trying for a few nights...?

Epic post where I attempt to respond as comprehensively as poss!

daholster are you pleased it's come to nothing as DH in still in Edinburgh? You're v kind to your DD in the morning here it's porridge or bust for her breakfast. With extra croissants/ hot cross buns at the weekend obvs. I think I love Ben & Holly more than DD! With regards to induction etc quite frankly if I were in your shoes I would be having a section but that's probably bc I don't understand your condition well enough and I am not someone who can cope with unknowns. Questions of 'selfishness' wouldn't come into it tbh, I'm afraid I put myself and my comfort first, God forgive me

Sorry for all the poor sleep, itching and general pregnancy uncomfortableness.

BFing - if baby is starting to gain, consider not waking them every three hours for a feed. We did this with DD as we'd read that newborns must feed every three hours and she would get terribly cross. Mw gently suggested that we let her find her own rhythm ie use common sense. Appreciate this isn't very helpful advice if weight gain isn't quite where it needs to be.

Boo defo don't hide them. don't know if skin to skin is still trendy but it got talked up a lot in 2011 so I used to feed DD with nothing at all on my top half and her naked except for a nappy.

RL I had to give my DH a reality check last night when he came home at 1030ish a bit merry from a rare outing with the men. He was talking about some cricket match at end May that he was planning to go to at Headingly which is somewhere near Leeds! I told him in no uncertain terms that this was not a goer with a six week old newborn. I was so cross with him - save for our family holiday in October, I'm not making any plans at all from now onwards! We'll just need to see how things pan out and let the children guide us on what's possible and what isn't. Silly man. And he had that horrid sour beer breath yuck. He has sheepishly conceded this morning that it was a dumb idea.

Lauren it goes without saying that you are the priority - I don't think doctors would even consider another possibility. I think my section consent forms go into this come to think of it. But try not to dwell on it, I'm sure you have a very good chance of delivering safely for both you and bump.

kismac great news that you have such a solicitous neighbour that must be a comfort.

Chicken - completely normal re baby settling better with OH bc no milk. Always used to get DD to sleep on DH's chest. Which also has the advantage of being nice and flat and wide rather than narrow and bumpy!

So been for bikini wax this morning and to library to borrow a couple of parenting books with chapters on practical time management of a young child and baby. Even if it all comes to nothing at least I'll feel like I've started with a plan of sorts.

I'd better get off mumsnet and start reading!

Bless him he has just apologised... Think I must have laid it on a bit thick poor DH!

smogs I think because I have had big surgery and am due more to try to get rid of my stoma I'm pretty desperate to avoid any scarring that might threaten that. But equally I have to admit I'm a bit frightened this time of the labouring with a stoma. And as the BHs get stronger I think the left side low pain I feel is also a bit of scar tissue pulling or something. Which worries me as the contractions get stronger how much that will hurt!!!

Yes I am relieved in a way it came to nothing but for some reason I feel that if I had woken with proper contractions this morning he would have been able to get back in time. Though second time round, am probably being very naive!!!

You're not selfish at all daholster - I would be asking for something at 40 weeks in your position.

I hadn't even thought about me or the baby.... guess I need to go through everything with DH soon.

aww smogs at least an apology means he was listening

Seem's i'm not the only one that has a DH that seems confused why I won't plan anything for May/June. Like.. Why aren't we going to see Derren Brown's Show, or , oo why don't we go to Blackpool over easter... yeah coz i'll relly feel like walking up and down the beach/prom at 40 weeks pregnant or with a newborn baby!
And he keeps telling everyone that we'll come visit with the baby. And I keep getting mad about it, because i really want to breast feed and he seems to be missing the point that in the first few weeks i'll be trying to get used to feeding and he won't be able to just take baby out for hours on end because what if he gets hungry and i'm not there, and on the same hand, i want to be in my own home, bonding etc and dont want to be trudging round to everyones house. grrr rant over.

these "fanny daggers" as we've named them are really crippling at times. anyone else still getting them? I'm really struggling to get from the couch to the loo at the moment because it's quite painful. And I keep getting a burning pain under my rib which is making getting comfy a real pain!

today is day 1 of Mat leave :D
bored already lol :/ watching Elementary, not sure what i'll do when I've caught up with episodes.

hugs to everyone trying to get sleep

Chicken by about six weeks bfing should have settled down and be a lot more straightforward for you. Whenever they have a growth spurt they will feed a lot to up your milk supply but that happens at reasonably predictable intervals (look at Wonder Weeks for more info). Once you have established breastfeeding it is so easy and baby can 'snack' if they're thirsty and need the fluid or have a longer feed to get the calories in. The more you feed at the start the better though. Your breasts are laying down prolactin receptors now which will influence the maximum amount of milk you can produce (this is how a mother can feed twins or triplets, her breasts will have more prolactin receptors than the mum of a singleton). The more milk you can produce the better for when they are going through the aforementioned growth spurts.

Hiding - what do you mean you don't want to come to Blackpool? you could meet me on the prom for ice cream! I know what you mean though about making plans. DH is making plans for Easter weekend (as in trying to decide if he should do some overtime on the Saturday or not.)

We also still haven't made a decision about the family caravan holiday in July. My mum has booked a 10 birth caravan in Norfolk for everyone. I just think it'll be a bit much as my mum and dad are there and my sister, her DH and my 2 nieces. Add me and DH, DD and baby it'll be crammed to the gills and we don't particularly like my BiL (He's a no it all, party pooper and isn't afraid to shove his opinion down everyone's throats.) My sister is oblivious to our dislike of him though.

Ooo I'm leaving to go to the mw in a few mins. Then I'll only have 1 day left at work